JP2016513191A - Application and activation of durable water repellents using densified fluids - Google Patents

Abstract

Pressurized systems that use densified fluids can apply and / or activate durable water repellents. First, after removing a plurality of contaminants through the pressurized densified fluid cleaning process, the energy is attributed to the durable water repellent through the interaction between the densified fluid and the article and its gas rinsing cycle. By doing so, the durable water repellent bonded to the plurality of fibers of the garment article can be activated.

Description

[Related applications]
This application is related to US Provisional Patent Application Nos. 61 / 770,964, filed February 28, 2013, and US Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 14 / 192,545, filed February 27, 2014, Claiming the benefit of their priority, both applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes as if they were fully described herein.

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to durable water repellents, and more specifically to the application and / or activation of durable water repellents using densified carbon dioxide.
[Background technology]

  A durable water repellent (DWR) is a coating added to a plurality of fabrics to make them waterproof (or hydrophobic). The hydrophobic effect is observed as a tendency of a plurality of nonpolar substances to be concentrated in an aqueous solution and exclude a plurality of water molecules. A nonpolar substance has an even distribution of a plurality of electrons between two atoms of a diatomic molecule, which is due to the symmetrical arrangement of the plurality of electrons. The name hydrophobic means literally “fear of water” and is characterized by a separation between water and non-polar substances and an apparent repulsive force. The hydrophobic effect accounts for the separation of a mixture of oil and water into its two components and water droplets on multiple nonpolar surfaces, such as oily leaves.

  Hydrophobic interactions are mainly entropy effects due to highly dynamic hydrogen bond breakage between liquid water molecules due to nonpolar solutes. Similar non-polar regions of hydrocarbon chains or large molecules cannot form multiple hydrogen bonds with water, so when such a non-hydrogen bonded surface is introduced into water, a hydrogen bond network between multiple water molecules Cause destruction. In DWR, multiple hydrogen bonds are reoriented tangentially to the surface to minimize the destruction of the hydrogen bonded 3D network of multiple water molecules, so that a water “cage” around the non-polar surface. ”. Multiple water molecules that form a “cage” (ie, solvation shell) constrain mobility. By aggregating such molecules together, the nonpolar molecules reduce the surface area exposed to water and minimize their destructive effects. Therefore, water aggregation is increased.

  The hydrophobic effect can also be quantified by measuring multiple partition coefficients for multiple nonpolar molecules between water and multiple nonpolar solvents. Multiple partition coefficients can be converted to free energy transfer, including enthalpy and entropy components. Recall that enthalpy is a measure of the total energy of a thermodynamic system, while entropy is a measure of randomness, the number of ways in which the system can be deployed. The hydrophobic effect is entropy driven at room temperature due to the reduced mobility of multiple water molecules within the solvation shell of the nonpolar solute. However, the enthalpy component of transmitted energy is preferred, meaning that there is a plurality of water-to-water hydrogen bond enhancements present in the solvation shell, apparently due to the reduced mobility of water molecules. A solvation shell is a shell of any plurality of chemical species that acts as a solvent and surrounds a plurality of solute species. When the solvent is water, it is usually called the hydration shell or hydration sphere. The higher the temperature, the more water molecules are more mobile and this energy gain decreases, but so does the entropy component. As a result of such entropy-enthalpy correction, the hydrophobic effect (as measured by free energy transfer) is only weakly temperature dependent and becomes smaller at lower temperatures.

  Historically, DWRs containing multiple long perfluoroalkyl chains are the chemistry of choice for multiple uses of fabrics. Multiple perfluorochemicals are used to incorporate multiple raw materials containing perfluoroalkyl chains into acrylic or urethane polymers used as multiple DWR processes. Several unique properties of DWR processing related to water and oil repellency are derived from perfluoroalkyl chains attached to an acrylic or urethane polymer backbone. Many treatments applied in DWR factories are therefore fluoropolymer based. A fluoropolymer is a fluorocarbon-based polymer with multiple strong carbon-fluorine bonds. Multiple fluoropolymers share the properties of multiple fluorocarbons and they are not susceptible to van der Waals forces as multiple hydrocarbons. This contributes to their non-sticking, friction reducing properties. They are also stable due to the stability of multiple carbon-fluorine bonds added to the compounds. The plurality of fluoropolymers are mechanically characterized as thermosetting resins or thermoplastic resins. The multiple fluoropolymers can be multiple single polymers or copolymers and can be characterized as high resistance to multiple solvents, acids, and bases. While the following invention is generally described in the context of multiple DWR processes, and more specifically the use of multiple fluoropolymers, those skilled in the art will recognize the innovative techniques described below. It will be appreciated that and related devices are equally applicable to other types of fluorochemicals, including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Furthermore, the present invention is equally applicable to a plurality of short chain fluorinated DWR chemicals.

  Silicon is another chemical structure generally associated with multiple water repellents. The plurality of silicone water repellents or waterproofing agents are usually provided in two forms. The plurality of elastomeric polydimethylsiloxanes characterize the plurality of elastomeric coatings that adhere to the fabric and cure to form a flexible overcoat. A plurality of water repellent chemicals that are permeable characterize a plurality of reactive silanes and a plurality of siloxane resins having a plurality of crosslinkable side chains. These materials have a plurality of smaller molecular structures that allow them to penetrate deeply into the fabric to which they are chemically bonded.

  Silicon has a low surface tension, which allows it to diffuse and easily penetrate into multiple holes in the fabric. In the highly flexible and mobile siloxane skeleton, a plurality of water repellent methyl groups orient themselves to the surface, forming a waterproof “umbrella” similar to a plurality of fluorine-based compounds. A plurality of water repellents such as DWR are generally used with a plurality of waterproof breathable fabrics to prevent water from penetrating the outer layer of the fabric. This saturation, called “wetting”, can reduce the breathability of the garment (moisture transfer through the breathable membrane) and allow water to pass through. Without a DWR, even outside the waterproof jacket, it will be soaked and the wet fabric will bend and stick to the wearer and become heavy. In addition, since the DWR does not “cover” the surface, the DWR does not inhibit breathability and binds to the fabric fibers, leaving the gaps between the fibers intact.

  Prior art methods for multiple DWR processes applied in the factory require applying a chemical solution to the surface of the fabric, whether sprayed or impregnated. More recently, the chemistry has been applied in the gas phase using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) machines. By the US Environmental Protection Agency, the application treatment is considered potentially harmful to human health, and subsequent advances have removed multiple perfluoroacids.

  Multiple durable water repellent (DWR) coatings are ubiquitous in many markets such as outdoor apparel, equipment, and tents. These coatings are typically applied to fabrics or textile fabrics, and to name a few examples, the substrate becomes part of a finished product such as a jacket or parka, sleeping bag, footwear or tent. At the industrial level, when a fabric or fabric is treated, the DWR agent is applied via a “wet” chemistry treatment and then “activated” or “activated” via a thermal, re-industrial treatment. " The “activated” DWR treated fabric is then incorporated into a downstream finished product (eg, a parka).

  There are several problems associated with multiple DWR agents and processes where multiple DWR agents are applied and "activated", "re-applied", and "re-activated". The first problem is that multiple fluorocarbons present in the DWR are bioaccumulated (ie, the fluorocarbons enter and stay in the bloodstream of those exposed to the fluorocarbons) and they are in the natural environment. It is not to be decomposed. Thus, the two main DWRs currently in use are considered as “potential carcinogens” by the EPA.

  In addition, the process to which the DWR is applied consumes energy, time and chemical substances, and forms a secondary waste stream that is difficult to solve. Furthermore, DWR coatings easily degrade and DWR coatings increasingly “deactivate”, such as after repeated use of DWR treatment items (eg, jackets) and / or after multiple washing and wearing cycles. The usual mechanisms for this deactivation are particles that accumulate at the oil, dust, and molecular levels and interfere with the actual water repellency properties of the DWR. The resulting effect is that water repellency is reduced, thereby adversely affecting marketability, customer satisfaction, and affecting multiple product warranties and / or costs.

  There are several ways in the home to “reactivate” and “recoat” finished apparel with DWR agents. However, these have low performance, low reliability issues, and the long, effort required to “activate” newly applied DWRs and / or “reactivate” existing DWRs It involves multiple procedures that are energy consuming. Therefore, there is a need to provide a means for effectively and efficiently recovering a plurality of DWR characteristics in a plurality of DWR processed materials. These, and other shortcomings of the prior art, are addressed by one or more embodiments of the present invention.

  Several additional advantages and novel features of the present invention are set forth in part in the detailed description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following specification. Or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention may be realized and attained through the means, combinations, arrangements and methods particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

  Systems and associated techniques for the application and / or activation of durable water repellents are described below. One embodiment according to a method for activating durable water repellency includes placing an article having one or more fibers in a pressure vessel, the one or more fibers of the article being a durable water repellent. Combined. The article is then treated with a densified fluid to remove a plurality of contaminants. While keeping the article clean, processing continues by activating a durable water repellent that is bonded to one or more fibers of the article.

  Similarly, a durable water repellent is applied to an article having one or more fibers by placing the article in a pressure vessel and then treating the article with a densified fluid to remove multiple contaminants. obtain. In this case, the densified fluid includes a durable water repellent solution that binds to the plurality of fibers of the article. After being bonded to the plurality of fibers, the durable water repellent is activated in one embodiment by subjecting the article to a high pressure gas rinse cycle.

  According to another embodiment, the present invention further includes a system for activating a durable water repellent. Such a system includes a pressure vessel operable to hold the densified fluid at high pressure, a storage tank fluidly coupled to the pressure vessel for storing the densified fluid, and the pressure vessel and storage. A distillation system fluidly coupled to the tank. The distillation system is operable to remove a plurality of suspended and dissolved contaminants from the densified fluid. Finally, the system includes an article having one or more fibers in which one or more fibers of the article are bonded to a durable water repellent. The interaction between the article in the pressure vessel and the densified fluid, including exposure to static electricity created during the high pressure gas rinse cycle, activates the durable water repellent.

  In yet another embodiment of the invention, a durable water repellent can be applied to a plurality of fibers of an article using a system that includes a pressure vessel operable to hold the densified fluid at high pressure, The densified fluid includes a durable water repellent solution. The system can also include a containment tank and a distillation system fluidly coupled to the pressure vessel, the distillation system operable to remove multiple suspended and dissolved contaminants from the densified fluid. It is. The interaction between the article and the densified fluid binds to one or more fibers and simultaneously activates the structure.

  The features and advantages described in this disclosure and the following detailed description are not all-inclusive. Many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant arts after reviewing the drawings, specification, and claims. Furthermore, it is noted that the language used in the specification has been selected primarily for readability and explanatory purposes, and cannot be selected to describe or limit the subject matter of the invention. In order to determine the subject matter of such invention, it is necessary to refer to the claims.

  The above and other features and objects of the present invention and methods of implementing them will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed description of one or more embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. As well as the invention itself will be best understood. These figures depict multiple embodiments of the present invention for illustrative purposes only. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that multiple alternative embodiments of the structures and methods shown herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the invention described herein. It will be easily recognized from the following description.

1 is a high-level view of a densified fluid cleaning system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of an embodiment according to one method for applying and / or activating DWR using a densified cleaning system according to the present invention.

  DWR works by increasing the contact angle or surface tension created when water contacts the surface of a fabric or the like. Basically, the high contact angle forms a microscopic “tip-pointed” surface that allows multiple water droplets to stay on the outer edge of the fabric. As a result, the plurality of water droplets maintain a round and swollen shape like a dome-shaped ball. The more round the water droplet is, the more it rolls off from clothes or fabrics. On the contrary, the low contact angle causes water droplets to diffuse, adhere to the fabric, and finally penetrate. Molecular chains present in all DWRs are affected by physical contact (friction) and can be covered by dust and oil. As a result, the surface tension is reduced, causing water to flatten or adhere to the fabric.

The present invention provides a simpler, faster, more efficient and less energy or chemical consuming method for activating DWRs present in fabrics or textile fabrics. One embodiment of the present invention employs dense phase (eg, liquid or supercritical) carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) as a “wet process”, and in particular, items in question are processed via a CO ₂ based cleaning system. .

Multiple mechanisms specific to CO ₂ cleaning processes that employ dense phase CO ₂ as the primary cleaning / rinsing agent, including high pressure gas rinsing cycles, are enhanced, resulting in activation and / or application of multiple DWR properties DWR chemical structure is possible.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the CO ₂ cleaning technique includes an enhanced rinsing and distillation process that activates multiple molecular bonds present in multiple DWR components. This allows for the separation of multiple contaminants by continuous, real-time CO ₂ distillation and has sufficient storage capacity to produce pure, clean CO ₂ throughout the wash and rinse cycle. In a system designed in this way, it is made possible by a coordinated and appropriate thermodynamic balance (heat transfer via cooling etc.). More specifically, the continuous distillation system and multiple CO ₂ treatments according to the present invention assign energy to the DWR fluoropolymer and / or multiple silicon bonds to enhance its hydrophobic properties.

Previously, multiple early prototypes of multiple CO ₂ cleaning systems distill CO ₂ in an inaccurate, batch mode. While some people use a partial distillation, without any distillation fluid, rather, it was Moi people use filtration as a mechanism for cleaning the CO _2. Some people used pressure differences for distillation.

CO ₂ multiple results of purification was insufficient by a variety of problems, including such things as follows. That is, insufficient process flow and multiple valve / pipe designs limited the ability to maintain accurate process control and the distiller was too small to process the CO ₂ volume of the machine. In addition, the multiple condensation characteristics of these machines were too low to achieve the distillation necessary to maintain the required volume of clean and purified form of CO ₂ obtained throughout the washing process. The present invention not only produces purified CO ₂ useful for washing multiple fabrics, but also multiple molecular bonds between large DWR molecules to further suppress its ability to bind hydrogen in water molecules. Presents a continuous distillation and rinsing system that activates As a result, multiple water molecules form a water cage and droplets on the DWR treated surface.

Another aspect of the present invention that results in enhanced application and / or activation of DWRs is the rapid extraction of CO ₂ , which accelerates and enhances the generation of static electricity throughout the cleaning / rinsing process with precise rate control and Advanced drive, variable frequency drive (VFD) is used. This static charge generation through the introduction of a gas rinse cycle activates and activates the DWR. Further, additional pressure associated with the CO ₂ cleaning process of the present invention adds additional energy to the DWR treated fabric, eventually enhance the plurality of DWR characteristics. It should be noted that the present invention does not employ heat as a mechanism for “activating” and activating a DWR, as applied in the prior art. Thus, instead of heat, which can ultimately hurt clothes, the present invention relies on energy (eg, in a CO ₂ extraction and regeneration cycle that realigns multiple DWR molecules to their most effective configuration. , Static electricity). Due to the controlled environment embodied by the present invention, multiple DWR molecules are aligned in their most efficient hydrophobic configuration.

  According to another embodiment of the present invention, DWR is applied to a plurality of pre-configured garments and / or a plurality of untreated or completed fabrics using a plurality of techniques presented herein. Can achieve multiple superior results and provide multiple enhanced water repellency properties at the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) level. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may be part of a general reconditioning or service of multiple garments or other items within the same system to reapply or reactivate DWR in the secondary market. Can be used.

One or more embodiments of the present invention describe a closed system that uses a continuously cleaned / purified CO ₂ source and / or supercritical CO ₂ in a cleaning process that lasts about 30 minutes. Since there is no secondary waste, all fluorocarbons and DWR agents are contained within the closed system and water is not used as a cleaning medium. The process not only includes extraction of multiple contaminants that can reduce multiple DWR characteristics, as described herein, but also occurs during introduction and decompression of multiple additional forms of energy such as static electricity. Through a simple energy exchange, the chemical structure of the DWR is modified (realigned) to its optimal form. Unlike conventional cleaning and drying processes where multiple measurements are implemented to mitigate the generation of static electricity, the present invention generates static electricity that subsequently activates the DWR to align multiple poles of multiple DWR molecules. Adopt multiple technologies to strengthen.

  Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although the present invention has been described and illustrated with a certain degree of particularity, the present disclosure has been presented by way of example only, and those skilled in the art will be able to combine and arrange multiple components without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It should be understood that numerous modifications can be used.

  To assist in a comprehensive understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention as defined by the claims and their equivalent techniques, the following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Provided. The detailed description includes various details to aid its understanding, but these should be considered merely exemplary. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications can be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Let's go. In addition, descriptions of a plurality of well-known functions and configurations are omitted for the sake of clarity and conciseness.

  The terms and phrases used in the following detailed description and claims are not limited to the bibliographic meaning, but are intended by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. It is just used. Accordingly, the following detailed description of several exemplary embodiments of the invention is provided for purposes of illustration only and is for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not provided.

  Durable water repellent (DWR) has multiple performance attributes (multiple effects) such as water repellency, oil repellency, dirt repellency, soil repellency, stain release, soil release, and durability (eg, laundry) Fabric finishing, which can include (for dry cleaning, friction, exposure, rain, etc.).

  A fluoropolymer is a fluorinated polymer formed by (co) polymerization of multiple fluorine-containing monomers that form a polymer in which the fluorine is directly bonded to multiple carbons of the polymer backbone.

  By the term “substantial”, the characteristic, parameter, or value described need not be accurately achieved, for example, multiple tolerances, measurement errors, measurement accuracy, multiple limitations, and known to those skilled in the art Multiple deviations or changes, including other factors, mean that they can occur in amounts that do not exclude the effect that the property was intended to provide.

  Throughout, like reference numerals refer to like elements. In the drawings, the size of the specific lines, layers, components, elements, or features may be exaggerated for clarity.

  The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes reference to one or more such surfaces.

  As used herein, any reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” includes at least one particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described with respect to that embodiment. Means that The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places throughout the specification may or may not refer to the same embodiment.

  As used herein, the terms “comprising”, “comprising”, “including”, “including”, “having”, “having”, or any other modification thereof Is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, article, or device comprising a plurality of elements in a list is not necessarily limited to those elements, and is not explicitly specified or is in such a process, method, article, or device. Multiple other elements may be included. Further, unless otherwise specified, “or (or)” refers to an inclusive OR rather than an exclusive OR. For example, condition A or B is met by any one of the following: That is, A is true (or exists) and B is false (or does not exist), A is false (or does not exist) and B is true (or exists), and A and B Both are true (exist).

  Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Terms as defined in commonly used dictionaries should be construed as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the light of the specification and the related art, and as such It will be further understood that it should not be construed in an ideal or unduly formal sense unless explicitly defined otherwise. A number of well-known functions or configurations may not be described in detail for brevity and / or clarity.

  When an element is referred to as being “on”, “attaching”, “connecting”, “connecting”, “contacting”, “mounting”, etc. to another element, one element On the other hand, it will also be understood that it may be directly “on”, “attached”, “connected”, “coupled” or “contacted”, or there may be multiple intervening elements. In contrast, when one element is referred to another element, eg, “directly on”, “directly attached”, “directly connected”, “directly connected”, or “directly contacted”, multiple There are no intervening elements. One skilled in the art will also recognize that multiple references to a structure or mechanism that is “adjacent” to another mechanism may have portions that overlap or underlying the adjacent mechanism. I will.

  Spatial relative terms such as “below”, “below”, “below”, “below”, “above”, etc. are used to refer to other elements of an element or mechanism shown in more than one drawing Or may be used herein to facilitate a description describing the relationship to the mechanism. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use and in operation in addition to the orientations shown in the drawings. I will. For example, a plurality of elements described as “under” or “beneath” relative to a plurality of other elements or mechanisms if the position of the device in the drawings is reversed. Will be directed “over” relative to the other elements or mechanisms. Thus, the exemplary term “under” may encompass both “over” and “under” orientations. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptions used herein may be interpreted accordingly. Similarly, terms such as “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “vertical”, and “horizontal” are used herein for illustrative purposes only unless otherwise indicated. Used in calligraphy.

Included in the detailed description are flowcharts illustrating examples of techniques that may be used to activate DWR using CO ₂ . In the detailed description that follows, it will be understood that each block of the flowchart diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart diagrams, can be implemented by multiple instructions of a computer program. These computer program instructions may be loaded into a computer or other programmable device to generate a machine so that a plurality of instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device is a flowchart block. Alternatively, a means for implementing a plurality of functions indicated by a plurality of blocks is formed. Also, these computer program instructions may be stored in a computer readable memory that is instructable to function in a particular manner for a computer or other programmable device, and as a result stored in the computer readable memory. The generated instructions generate a product including instruction means that implements the functionality shown in the flowchart block or blocks. The plurality of computer program instructions are also loaded into a computer or other programmable device to generate a computer-implemented process such that a series of operational steps are performed on the computer or other programmable device. As a result, instructions executed on a computer or other programmable device provide steps for implementing the functions shown in the flowchart blocks or blocks.

  Therefore, the plurality of blocks in the plurality of flowchart diagrams support a plurality of combinations related to means for executing a plurality of specific functions and a plurality of combinations related to a plurality of steps for executing a plurality of specific functions. Each block of a plurality of flowchart diagrams, and a plurality of combinations of the plurality of blocks in the flowchart diagrams, perform a plurality of special purpose hardware-based computer systems or a specific application that perform a plurality of specific functions or steps It will also be understood that it may be implemented by multiple combinations of hardware and multiple computer instructions.

  Hydrogen bonding between water molecules is the driving force between the properties of two waters, aggregation and adhesion. Agglomeration is the function of water that sticks to itself. Agglomeration is the driving force behind the rain. The plurality of water vapor molecules combine until the combined weight of the molecules reaches a point that cannot be supported by multiple current atmospheric conditions. Adhesion is the function of water sticking to other surfaces. Thereby, water diffuses and forms a film. When water comes into contact with these surfaces, the adhesion is greater than the cohesion of water. Instead of sticking to itself, water diffuses.

  Water also has a high level of surface tension. Surface tension means that molecules on the surface of water are not surrounded by the same molecules on every side and are therefore pulled only by cohesive forces from the molecules inside. is there. The surface tension causes the water droplets to round so as to cover the smallest possible surface area. DWR attempts to reduce adhesion and allow water to coalesce further.

  On the fabric surface, after being applied, the DWR particles diffuse over the plurality of fabric fibers. The plurality of fluoroalkyl chains are oriented perpendicular to the fabric surface. It can be thought of as a plurality of fine umbrellas connected to the polymer backbone. This innumerable “umbrella” forms a low surface energy shell on the fabric that has a lower surface energy (adhesion) than that of water or oil. Thus, when water or oil contacts the fabric surface, the water or oil does not bond to the fluoroalkyl chain and prevents the fabric from getting wet. Water becomes ball-like and has a high “contact angle”. Along with weak adhesion and high agglomeration, the multiple high surface tensions of water drive the water to form multiple balls with minimal contact with the DWR treated surface. The better the treatment, the more round the water drops. Optimized DWR processing is designed for a specific fabric based on its fiber type and fabric configuration, with multiple fluorinated chains standing perpendicular to the fabric surface and functioning as a continuous surface A plurality of fine polymer region arrays (not membranes or coatings) are formed on the fabric surface in close enough proximity to one another. The image is the feeling that a large number of fine umbrellas on the surface are in contact with their tips so that water or oil cannot penetrate into the fibers of the fabric. Water or oil cannot diffuse, causing them to rise like balls and slide down from the fabric. Those skilled in the relevant art will understand that silicon-based chemistries also orient their methyl groups relative to the surface, forming a similar array of “umbrellas”. These and other chemical structures that exhibit similar properties are equally applicable to and contemplated by the present invention.

In order to form this large amount of fine umbrellas, the polymer regions need to be accurately aligned. This alignment is driven in part by the energy contained within each molecular pole. One or more embodiments of the present invention, in order to attribute the energy DWR molecule, using a CO ₂ cleaning process results in the optimal alignment of the plurality of poles, thereby generating the water structure. Fluoropolymers associated with many DWR compounds bind to the individual fibers of the fabric. These molecules tend to align themselves to a pointed, vertical structure, reducing the fabric's adhesion to water. That is, when a plurality of fluoropolymer molecules (a plurality of poles) are activated, a plurality of umbrellas stand up with their tips touching each other. However, over time, the energy in these molecules can decrease or be impaired by multiple external factors such as dust and oil that cause the umbrellas to drop. When multiple molecules “lie down”, their hydrophobic effect is reduced.

One embodiment of the present invention is a function of applying initial DWR processing. CO ₂ liquid / supercritical / gas penetrates multiple fabrics more easily than aqueous solutions. Thus, CO ₂ functions as a supply factor for the fluoropolymer molecules and can apply the DWR material more uniformly and deeply than conventional techniques. The DWR material is placed in solution with CO _{2 and} is introduced into the untreated fabric during the CO ₂ wash cycle. During a normal cleaning process, the DWR material penetrates the fabric and adheres to the plurality of fabric fibers. Depending on the concentration and time of the wash cycle, different degrees of DWR application can be achieved. As those skilled in the relevant art will appreciate, silicon-based and fluorocarbon-based multiple DWR components are equally enhanced by the use of multiple liquid / supercritical / gas CO ₂ delivery systems according to the present invention. The

According to another embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 1, a plurality of DWR molecules in a fabric impregnated with DWR are activated (activated) using a densified CO ₂ cleaning process and apparatus. ) According to one version of the invention, the cleaning system 100 includes an agitation basket 120 enclosed within a pressure vessel 110. The pressure vessel is coupled to a variety of additional components that can be used to obtain satisfactory and successful cleaning results using the densified fluid. For example, the pressure vessel 110 may be coupled to the purge tank 160 from which the densified fluid gas may be conveyed from and to the pressure vessel 110 and the cleaning environment. Further, the pressure vessel 110 can be connected to one or more storage tanks 170 from which the densified fluid can be temporarily stored and supplied to the cleaning process as needed.

The CO ₂ cleaning system of the present invention further includes a distillation system 135 comprised of an evaporation component 130 and a condensation component 140, the distillation system 135 being suspended from a plurality of dirty articles in a densified fluid. And convert the densified fluid to its gas to remove multiple decomposed contaminants and then recondensate the densified fluid gas back to its liquid for further use in the cleaning process To do. As further shown in FIG. 1, the densified fluid collected from the pressure vessel containing various contaminants obtained from a plurality of dirty articles 125 passes through a series of mechanical filters 124, 128 and eventually. To the evaporator 130 (distiller), where the densified fluid is converted from its densified form to gas by energy change via pressure control and / or heating, thereby suspending and dissolving Substantially removing the plurality of contaminated contaminants. Here, the clean gas is recondensed to a liquid in the condenser 140 before being passed to the containment vessel 150 for later use in the pressure vessel.

  In another embodiment of the present invention, the evaporator 130 of the distillation system 135 includes an internal heat exchanger. A heat exchanger (not shown) may include a plurality of coils of heating elements arranged for heat transfer to the densified fluid. The energy source from the heating coil may be derived from various media such as, but not limited to, densified fluid, steam, hot water, electricity, hot air and / or refrigerant. In another embodiment of the present invention, steam can be used as a heat source. The heating coil can also be placed in the boiling vessel so that the coil is immersed in the densified fluid. It should also be noted that the helical or finned coil design increases the heating capacity by maximizing the heat transfer surface, but those skilled in the relevant arts should achieve the same results. It will be appreciated that other designs for the heat exchanger can be used.

  As one of ordinary skill in the relevant art will appreciate, distillation is a method of separating a plurality of mixtures based on the difference in volatility of the components in a boiling liquid mixture. Distillation is a physical separation process, not a chemical reaction. Bubbles are formed without collapsing back into the solution only when the vapor pressure of the liquid is equal to the pressure applied to the liquid. At a basic level, heating a volatile mixture of substances A and B (substance A has a lower boiling point) to that boiling point results in a vapor containing a mixture of A and B. However, the ratio of A and B in the vapor will be different from the ratio of A and B in the liquid. In this case, since A has a lower boiling point, the vapor has a higher concentration of A. The vapor can be condensed to a fluid form and the process is repeated until the desired purity of the A liquid is achieved.

  Distillation, gas rinsing, and static electricity function to activate the cleaning environment. A portion of this energy is transferred to the molecular structure of multiple DWR molecules bound to multiple textile fibers. These now activated DWR molecules form a pointed vertical orientation to the host fiber, thereby weakening the adhesion between the fiber and water. In other words, the activated DWR molecules form a water-resistant surface, whereby the water cohesion is greater than the adhesion between the fiber and water. As a result, the water becomes ball-like and eventually rolls off the fabric.

  FIG. 2 shows a flowchart for one technique for applying a DWR to an article and / or activating a DWR in an article, according to an embodiment of the invention. The process begins 205 by placing 210 multiple items in a wash or agitation basket. The basket placed in the pressure vessel can be processed to agitate a plurality of articles in the pressure vessel, contributing to the supply of the densified solution. Agitation and processing of the basket enhances penetration of the densified solution into multiple articles for DWR application and / or DWR activation. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the plurality of articles placed in the pressure vessel may be garments, garments or a plurality of articles relating to a plurality of bulk fabrics and fabrics, which are formed into a plurality of garments after processing. It will be understood that it can be done.

With the plurality of articles placed in the basket of pressure vessels, the pressure vessel is sealed 220 and the densified cleaning solution is introduced 230 into the basket. According to one embodiment of the invention, the densified solution is liquefied or gaseous carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ). For the purposes of this application, the terms fluid and / or densified fluid are used to describe the gas, liquid, and / or supercritical state of matter, or any combination thereof. .

  In general, substances can be considered to exist in three different phases. These phases or states are generally known as solids, liquids, and gases. A phase diagram is a graphical representation of multiple physical states of a substance under different conditions of temperature and pressure. A typical phase diagram takes pressure on the Y axis and temperature on the X axis. When moving across multiple lines or curves on the graph, the phase of matter changes from one phase to the next. Furthermore, two adjacent phases of matter can coexist, i.e. they are in equilibrium on a line separating these regions. The critical point on the graph is a point in the phase diagram that is a temperature and pressure at which the liquid phase and gas phase of the substance cannot be distinguished. Beyond this point, temperature and pressure result in the presence of a synthesized single phase known as a supercritical fluid. Beyond this point, the distinction between fluid and gas no longer exists and the material is called a supercritical fluid.

  Multiple supercritical fluids can diffuse through multiple solids such as gases and dissolved materials such as liquids. Furthermore, near the critical point, small changes in pressure or temperature lead to large changes in density, allowing many properties of supercritical fluids to be “fine tuned”. Multiple supercritical fluids are often used as alternatives to organic solvents in processing areas at industrial laboratories. In general, multiple supercritical fluids have multiple properties, both gas and liquid. The plurality of supercritical fluids (in this case, the plurality of densified fluids) can include carbon dioxide, water, methane, ethane, propane, propylene, ethanol, acetone, and ethylene. One notable characteristic of multiple supercritical fluids is the absence of surface tension between the gas / liquid interfaces. By varying the pressure and temperature of the fluid, multiple properties can be “tuned” to become more liquid or more gas-like.

  Several advantages of supercritical fluid extraction (compared to liquid extraction) are that the extraction from the fabric is relatively fast due to its low viscosity and high diffusivity. By controlling the density of the medium, extraction can be made selective to some extent. Furthermore, the extracted material is easily removed by allowing the supercritical fluid to be depressurized and allowing the supercritical fluid to return to the gas phase. The evaporation process leaves almost no residual solids.

  Changes in pressure and temperature can also change the density of materials such as liquid carbon dioxide. An increase in pressure always increases the density of the material, while an increase in temperature generally decreases the density with some notable exceptions. For example, the density of water increases between its melting point, 0 ° C. and 4 ° C. As is generally known, the density of water is greater than the density of ice.

  The effect of pressure and temperature on the density of liquids and solids is small. The compressibility for a typical liquid or solid is 10-6 bar-1 (1 bar = 0.1 MPa) and the typical coefficient of thermal expansion is 10-5: K-1. In other words, roughly 10,000 times the atmospheric pressure is required to reduce the volume of the material by 1 percent. An expansion of 1 percent of the volume usually requires a temperature increase of about several thousand degrees Celsius. Thus, although the change in density of the liquid is substantially unimportant, the point of transition from liquid to gas can be significantly affected by both pressure and temperature. Thus, for the purposes of this application, densified fluids (gas, liquid, or supercritical) include substances or solutions that change between gas, liquid, and supercritical states based on temperature or pressure. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a densified fluid, in its liquid state, coexists with the gaseous form of the fluid in multiple regions having a free surface, such as a pressure vessel.

  With the pressure vessel pressurized to high pressure and the internal articles introduced into the densified cleaning solution, the article can be any multiple contaminants, oil, dirt, dust, which can alter the function of the DWR. Alternatively, it is processed 240 times in the basket and in the densified solution to remove other impurities. Responsive to the result of the densified fluid treatment, a high pressure gas rinse is initiated 270 that can attribute additional energy to the plurality of articles enclosed within the basket. Gas high pressure rinses generate a large amount of static electricity that activates and activates multiple DWR molecules.

  When rinsing is complete, the pressure vessel is depressurized 280, the articles impregnated with the activated DWR are removed 290, and the process ends. A cleaning process that uses multiple densified solutions simply returns the article to its original condition by removing any soil or multiple contaminants that may interfere with existing multiple DWR properties. Rather, it activates multiple DWR molecules and aligns their structures to form a more cohesive and more effective resistance to moisture adhesion.

  The densified cleaning system 100 can also be used to apply multiple DWR components to multiple articles, clothes, fabrics, and the like. Similar to prior art techniques, a plurality of unprocessed articles are placed 210 in a basket of pressure vessels. The pressure vessel is sealed 220 and the cleaning process begins.

  Rather than simply introducing a densified cleaning solution to remove any multiple contaminants and impurities from multiple articles, a pressurized densified DWR solution can be introduced 250 into the pressure vessel. As the solution cleans the article 260, the DWR component binds to the fabric fibers, so that at the end of the cleaning process, the interior articles are impregnated with a plurality of DWR molecules. Those skilled in the relevant art may vary container pressure and ambient temperature to achieve optimal and desired DWR impregnation results while multiple articles are exposed to DWR densified solution and DWR concentration. You will understand that.

  The multiple DWR characteristics are again enhanced through the use of a high pressure gas rinse cycle 270 that activates and activates multiple DWR molecules that remain bound to the fibers of the multiple articles in the basket of pressure vessels. Upon completion of the rinsing, the pressure vessel is depressurized 280, and the newly activated DWR impregnated articles are removed 290.

  These and other implementation techniques for applying and activating multiple DWR components can be successfully used by the densified cleaning system 100 according to the present invention. Details regarding these implementation techniques and their application in the context of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of skill in the relevant arts in light of this specification.

  While the present invention has been described and illustrated with a certain degree of particularity, the present disclosure has been presented by way of example only, and by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter. It should be understood that numerous changes can be used in the combination and arrangement of multiple parts.

  Embodiments of the present invention are outlined below. An embodiment method for activating durable water repellency includes placing an article having one or more fibers in a pressure vessel, wherein the one or more fibers of the article are bonded to a durable water repellent. Treating the article with a densified fluid to remove a plurality of contaminants, and activating a durable water repellent bonded to one or more fibers of the article. Including.

Other preferred features of the method for activating durable water repellency include the following.
The durable water repellent is a perfluoroalkyl chain.
Durable water repellents are based on fluorine chemistry.
Durable water repellents are based on silicon chemistry.
The durable water repellent is based on a fluoropolymer.
The durable water repellent is based on perfluorooctane sulfonate.
The durable water repellent is based on perfluorooctanoic acid.
The densified fluid is supercritical carbon dioxide.
The densified fluid is liquid carbon dioxide.
Processing includes cleaning the article with liquid carbon dioxide.
The step of activating includes exposing the durable water repellent to static electricity.
The activating step includes subjecting the article to a pressurized gas rinse cycle that imparts energy to the durable water repellent.
Activating includes transferring energy from the densified fluid to the durable water repellent.
The step of activating includes transferring energy from the gas rinse cycle to the durable water repellent.

  Another preferred embodiment for durable water repellent application includes placing an article having one or more fibers in a pressure vessel and treating the article with a densified fluid to remove multiple contaminants. The densifying fluid includes a durable water repellent and activating a durable water repellent bonded to one or more fibers of the article.

Several additional features of the above method for durable water repellent application include the following.
Treating includes bonding a durable water repellent to one or more fibers of the article.
The durable water repellent is a perfluoroalkyl chain.
Durable water repellents are based on fluorine chemistry.
Durable water repellents are based on silicon chemistry.
The durable water repellent is based on a fluoropolymer.
The durable water repellent is based on perfluorooctane sulfonate.
The durable water repellent is based on perfluorooctanoic acid. The densified fluid is liquid carbon dioxide.
The densified fluid is a supercritical fluid.
Processing includes cleaning the article with liquid carbon dioxide.
The step of activating includes exposing the durable water repellent to static electricity.
The activating step includes subjecting the article to a pressurized gas rinse cycle that imparts energy to the durable water repellent.
Activating includes transferring energy from the densified fluid to the durable water repellent.
The step of activating includes transferring energy from the gas rinse cycle to the durable water repellent.

  A system for durable water repellent activation represents yet another preferred embodiment according to the present invention. Such a system for durable water repellent activation may include: An operable pressure vessel for holding the densified fluid at high pressure, a storage tank fluidly coupled to the pressure vessel for storing the densified fluid, and a fluid in the pressure vessel and the storage tank And an article having one or more fibers, wherein the distillation system is operable to remove a plurality of suspended and dissolved contaminants from the densified fluid. And the one or more fibers of the article are bonded to a durable water repellent, and the interaction between the article in the pressure vessel and the densified fluid results in the durable water repellent. Activate.

Several other features related to a system for durable water repellent activation may include the following.
The distillation system is operable to use a high pressure gas to rinse the article.
Rinsing the article using high pressure gas activates the durable water repellent.
Static electricity generated by the pressure vessel activates the durable water repellent.
The durable water repellent is a perfluoroalkyl chain.
The durable water repellent is based on a fluoropolymer.
The densified fluid is carbon dioxide.
A stirring basket for treating the article in the pressure vessel is further provided in the pressure vessel.

  Another embodiment of a system for durable water repellent application includes: A pressure vessel operable to hold the densified fluid at high pressure; a storage tank fluidly coupled to the pressure vessel for storing the densified fluid; and the pressure vessel and the storage tank A fluidly coupled distillation system and an article having one or more fibers, wherein the densified fluid includes a durable water repellent solution, the distillation system from the densified fluid; Operable to remove suspended and dissolved contaminants, wherein the one or more fibers of the article are bonded to the durable water repellent and the article in the pressure vessel and the high density. The interaction with the activating fluid activates the durable water repellent bonded to the one or more fibers.

Several additional features for the durable water repellent application system described above include the following.
A stirring basket for treating the article in the pressure vessel is further provided in the pressure vessel.
The distillation system is operable to use a high pressure gas to rinse the article.
Rinsing the article using high pressure gas activates the durable water repellent.
Static electricity generated by the pressure vessel activates the durable water repellent.
The durable water repellent is a perfluoroalkyl chain.
The durable water repellent is based on a fluoropolymer. The densified fluid is carbon dioxide.

  Although the principles of the present invention have been described above in the context of DWR application and activation, it is clearly understood that the above detailed description has been made for illustrative purposes only and is not a limitation on the scope of the invention. Should be. In particular, it is understood that the teachings of the above disclosure will suggest other variations to those skilled in the relevant art. Such variations include a plurality of other features that are already known per se and that may be used in place of or in addition to the features already described herein. Good. Although the claims in this application are set forth as specific multiple combinations of multiple features, the disclosure herein also includes any number of novel features or functions explicitly or implicitly disclosed. Including any new combination of features, or any generalization or variation thereof that would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the relevant arts, anyway, such in any claim It should be understood that it alleviates any or all of the same technical problems faced by the present invention in connection with, and in any event, the same claimed invention. Applicant may submit multiple such features and / or multiple combinations of such features in the examination process of this application or in the examination process of any further application derived from this application. We reserve the right to create new claims.

Claims (45)

A method for activating durable water repellency,
Placing an article having one or more fibers in a pressure vessel, wherein the one or more fibers of the article are bonded to a durable water repellent;
Treating the article with a densified fluid to remove a plurality of contaminants;
Activating the durable water repellent bonded to the one or more fibers of the article. The method for activating durable water repellency.   The method for activating durable water repellency according to claim 1, wherein the durable water repellent is a perfluoroalkyl chain.   The method for activating durable water repellency according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the durable water repellent is based on fluorine chemistry.   The method for activating durable water repellency according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the durable water repellent is based on silicon chemistry.   The method for activating durable water repellency according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the durable water repellent is a fluoropolymer base.   The method for activating durable water repellency according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the durable water repellent is perfluorooctane sulfonate based.   The method for activating durable water repellency according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the durable water repellent is perfluorooctanoic acid based.   The method for activating durable water repellency according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the densified fluid is supercritical carbon dioxide.   The method for activating durable water repellency according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the densified fluid is liquid carbon dioxide.   8. A method for activating durable water repellency according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the treating comprises washing the article with liquid carbon dioxide.   The method for activating durable water repellency according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the activating step comprises subjecting the durable water repellent to static electricity.   The durable repellency according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the step of activating includes subjecting the article to a pressurized gas rinse cycle that imparts energy to the durable water repellent. The way to activate.   The step of activating comprises transferring energy from the densified fluid to the durable water repellent, for activating durable water repellency according to any one of claims 1-12. Method.   14. The method for activating durable water repellency according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the activating step comprises transferring energy from a gas rinse cycle to the durable water repellent. A method for applying a durable water repellent,
Placing an article having one or more fibers in a pressure vessel;
Treating the article with a densified fluid to remove a plurality of contaminants, the densified fluid comprising a durable water repellent;
Activating the durable water repellent bonded to the one or more fibers of the article.   The method for applying a durable water repellent according to claim 15, wherein the treating comprises bonding the durable water repellent to the one or more fibers of the article.   The method for applying a durable water repellent according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the durable water repellent is a perfluoroalkyl chain.   The method for applying a durable water repellent according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the durable water repellent is based on fluorine chemistry.   The method for applying a durable water repellent according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the durable water repellent is based on silicon chemistry.   The method for applying a durable water repellent according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the durable water repellent is a fluoropolymer base.   The method for applying a durable water repellent according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the durable water repellent is perfluorooctane sulfonate based.   The method for applying a durable water repellent according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the durable water repellent is based on perfluorooctanoic acid.   The method for applying a durable water repellent according to any one of claims 15 to 22, wherein the densified fluid is supercritical carbon dioxide.   23. A method for applying a durable water repellent according to any one of claims 15 to 22, wherein the densified fluid is a supercritical fluid.   23. A method for applying a durable water repellent according to any one of claims 15 to 22, wherein the treating step comprises the step of washing the article with liquid carbon dioxide.   26. A method for applying a durable water repellent according to any one of claims 15 to 25, wherein the activating step comprises subjecting the durable water repellant to static electricity.   27. The durable water repellent according to any one of claims 15 to 26, wherein the activating step comprises subjecting the article to a pressurized gas rinse cycle that imparts energy to the durable water repellent. Method for agent application.   28. A method for applying a durable water repellent according to any one of claims 15 to 27, wherein the activating step comprises transferring energy from the densified fluid to the durable water repellent. .   29. The method for applying a durable water repellent according to any one of claims 15 to 28, wherein the activating step comprises transferring energy from a gas rinse cycle to the durable water repellent. A durable water repellent activation system,
A pressure vessel that holds the densified fluid at high pressure;
A storage tank fluidly coupled to the pressure vessel for storing the densified fluid;
A distillation system fluidly coupled to the pressure vessel and the containment tank;
An article having one or more fibers,
The distillation system removes a plurality of suspended and dissolved contaminants from the densified fluid;
The one or more fibers of the article are bonded to a durable water repellent;
A durable water repellent activation system, wherein an interaction between the article in the pressure vessel and the densified fluid activates the durable water repellent.   31. The durable water repellent activation system of claim 30, wherein the distillation system uses high pressure gas to rinse the article.   32. The durable water repellent activation system of claim 31, wherein rinsing the article using high pressure gas activates the durable water repellent.   33. The durable water repellent activation system according to any one of claims 30 to 32, wherein static electricity generated by the pressure vessel activates the durable water repellent.   34. The durable water repellent activation system according to any one of claims 30 to 33, wherein the durable water repellent is a perfluoroalkyl chain.   35. The durable water repellent activation system according to any one of claims 30 to 34, wherein the durable water repellent is a fluoropolymer base.   36. The durable water repellent activation system according to any one of claims 30 to 35, wherein the densified fluid is carbon dioxide.   37. A durable water repellent activation system according to any one of claims 30 to 36, further comprising a stirring basket in the pressure vessel for treating the article in the pressure vessel. A durable water repellent application system,
A pressure vessel that holds the densified fluid at high pressure;
A storage tank fluidly coupled to the pressure vessel for storing the densified fluid;
A distillation system fluidly coupled to the pressure vessel and the containment tank;
An article having one or more fibers,
The densified fluid includes a durable water repellent solution;
The distillation system removes a plurality of suspended and dissolved contaminants from the densified fluid;
The one or more fibers of the article are bonded to the durable water repellent;
A durable water repellent application system, wherein an interaction between the article in the pressure vessel and the densified fluid activates the durable water repellent bonded to the one or more fibers.   39. The durable water repellent application system of claim 38, further comprising a stirring basket in the pressure vessel for treating the article in the pressure vessel.   40. A durable water repellent application system according to claim 38 or 39, wherein the distillation system uses high pressure gas to rinse the article.   41. The durable water repellent application system of claim 40, wherein rinsing the article using a high pressure gas activates the durable water repellent.   The durable water repellent application system according to any one of claims 38 to 41, wherein static electricity generated by the pressure vessel activates the durable water repellent.   The durable water repellent application system according to any one of claims 38 to 42, wherein the durable water repellent is a perfluoroalkyl chain.   The durable water repellent application system according to any one of claims 38 to 43, wherein the durable water repellent is a fluoropolymer base.   The durable water repellent application system according to any one of claims 38 to 44, wherein the densified fluid is carbon dioxide.

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